Houses 154 preview

This issue of Houses has prompted me to reflect on the adage of doing more with less. As we face the environmental consequences of continual construction, we should be advocating for adaptation over demolition, responsible use of resources and a determined effort to do less.

Many of the homes in this issue uphold the argument for adaptation by demonstrating how our existing housing stock can be skilfully recalibrated to suit contemporary life. In Bungalow by Other Architects, a Southern Highlands home that was “almost alright” is fine-tuned with subtlety and restraint, while two additions plugged into its side accommodate space for privacy and for work. In Vittino Ashe’s Tanoa, small-scale additions and modifications threaded into a Perth duplex have a transformative impact on daily life for a multigenerational family.
Monty Sibbel by Nuud Studio is a gracious restoration of a 1970s Sibbel Builders home in Melbourne. Beautifully crafted new work respects the Sibbel philosophy of sensitive, responsible design, demonstrating how we can live well in small spaces.

Less house often means more garden, and this issue, we’re celebrating the restorative potential of the outdoor room. From a quiet courtyard and a secluded coastal garden to a sculptural collage of pool, deck and fireplace, these spaces celebrate the outdoor room as a place for rest, play and revelry.

Alexa Kempton, editor

Follow Houses on Facebook and Instagram.

Subscriptions and back issues: Print and Digital.